Inking mechanism for printing machines



Dec. 31, 1929. A. J. GRAF INKING MECHANSM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Deo. l5. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l IVENTOR ,zu-A 7 g A'rrY.

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Dec. 31, 1929. A. J. GRAF 1,741,414

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Dec. l5. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 15. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR @m 5. a fv- Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT J. GRAF, OF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO R. HOE & CO., INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK INKING MEGHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Application iled December 15, 1.0127. Serial No. 240,088.

This invention relates to certain improvements in inking mechanisms for rotary printing machines.

ln inking mechanisms for rotary machines as now generally designed, the inking mechanism includes a source of ink supply and a plurality of inking rolls with or without ink distributing cylinders, the function of these rolls and cylinders being to thoroughly miX 1o up the ink so as to provide an even distribution of ink to the form member of the printing couple. ln the best practice these ink distributing rolls are vibrated, certain ot the rolls being vbrated in 'a direction opposite to that of the other rolls. It is desirable in certain classes ot printing, particularly in offset printing, that the movements given these rolls may be regulated or varied relatively to the speed of the press, so that a desired condition of the ink may be obtained depending on the sort of printing that is being done by the press. It is further desirable in these inking mechanisms that the inking mechanism can be started independently of the press, so that the ink can be put into suitable condition for t-he printing desired without waste of paper, the inking mechanism being ready for functioning at the time the press is started. It is further desirable that the endwise movement of the vibrating rolls and the requen cy with which the rolls are vihrated may be regulated relatively to the press speed.

1t is the especial object of the present invention to produce an improved inking mechanism whereby the movement of the vibrating ink rolls is eii'ected from a source of power independent of the press itself, so that the speed of the press is in no wiseaiected by the varying load produced by the vibratory action of the ink rolls.

It is a further object of the invention to produce such a construction in which the stroke or extent oit' the vibrating movement of the ink rolls and their frequency of vibration may be varied relatively to press speed, and in which the stroke adjusting means may be manipulated independently of the power means by which the ink rolls are operated.

A further object of the invention is to produce an improved arrangement of vibrating ink rolls which will effect a good distribution of the ink in combination with the means tor driving them independently of the operation of the press. y

TvVith these and other objects not specifically referred to in view, the invention consists in certain novel parts, arrangements and combinations which will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and the novel features pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed.

In the drawings,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, oi' one arrangement of ink rollers and the connections for effecting their vibratory movements Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of part of the mechanism shown 1n Figure 1,

looking in the direction of arrow 2 of that figure; i

Figure 3 is an end view, partly in section, of the independent power mechanism for operating the ink rolls, looking in the direction of arrow 3 of Figure 4, the view being taken on line 3*-3 of Figure 4; 1

VFigure 4 is a plan view oi the mechanism, including the motor, shown in Figure 3, looking in the direction of arrow 4 of that `tigure;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the mechanism for effecting the vibratory movement of the rol1s, the view being taken in the direction of arrow 5 on Figure 6;

Figure 6 is a side View of the mechanism shown inV Figure 5, looking in the direction of arrow 6 of that figure, and

Figure 7 is a detail top view of the mechanism shown in Figure 6, looking in the direction of arrow 7 of that ligure.

Referring nowv to thesedrawings, the mechanism selected to show the invention is a rotary printing machine of the offset type and of which the form cylinder only is illustrated, but it will be understood that the invention is applicable to other types of presses and is not to be restricted to an offset press. It is also understood that the printing cylinders and other parts of the press are suitably geared together and driven in a suitable manner by any means, such as an electric motor. As such parts, however, arevnot necessary for an understanding of the present invention, they have been omitted from the drawings.

The various parts of the inking mechanism are supported in suitable framing, indicated by the numeral 1, of any suitable or desired character, and the form cylinder of a printing couple is shown, indicated by the numeral 2.

In accordance with the invention, a source of power independent of the press is provided for operating the vibration of the inking mechanism. While this source of power may be of any suitable character, in the particular construction illustrated it is shown as an electric motor 11, the shaft 3 of which is connected, through suitable reducing worm gearing, indicated at 12, to an operating shaft 13.

The various inking rolls are vibrated from this shaft in any suitable manner. In the preferred form ofthe inking mechanism and as shown, the inking rolls are divided into what may be conveniently termed two sets, marked generally A and B in Figure 1. Set A includes a plurality of inking rolls and a distributing cylinder, and set B includes a plurality of vibrating ink rolls and form rolls, through which ink is delivered to the form cylinder 2. In the best constructions, means are provided whereby the extent or stroke of the vibratory movement of the vibrating rolls and their frequency of vibration may be adjusted, adjustment of the stroke being independent for each set A and B, the stroke adjusting mechanism being operable independ- 1 ent of the shaft 13. In the particular construction for effecting this, there is provided a pair of eccentrics 14, on the shaft 13, and the eccentric straps 14, 15 are connected respectively to rods 16, 17, the rod 16 operating the rolls of set B, and the rod 17 operating the ink rolls and distributing cylinder of set A.

The adjusting mechanism for effecting the vibratory movement of the rolls of sets A and B from the rods 16, 17 may be varied, but as shown these means comprise a pair of arms 18, 19, these arms beine suitably supported on a pivot 4 securec in a bracket 5 supported from the side frames,

the rod 16 being secured to arm 18, and they rod 17 to arm 19. These arms are provided with adjustable studs 20, 21, which pass through lugs 20", 21', secured on the ends of rods 22, 23, respectively, which operate the vibrating ink rolls. )Vith this construction,

the extent or stroke of the vibrating action.` can be adjusted as desired by sliding the studs 20, 21 in slots 6, 7 formed in the arms 18, 19, it being understood that as the studs are moved toward the pivot point of the arms the vibrating stroke is shortened. The speed or frequency of the vibratory movement is, of course, controlled by the speed of the motor. With this construction, therefore, the stroke of' the vibrator-y movement and the frequency of the vibratory movement can be adjusted as desired relatively to the speed of the press, and the stroke adjustment can be effected independently of the power shaft 13, by which the parts of the mechanism are operated.

The numberand movements of the vibrating rolls of each set may, of course, be varied as desired, as well as their direction of Vmovement. The press arrangement is, however,y a satisfactory one and will be described as illu-strative of the invention. Referring first to set B, the rod 22 is connected, as shown, to a bell crank lever, one arm of which is indicated by the numeral 24, this lever being fast on a cross shaft 25. The other arm of this lever is indicated at 26 and through the usual collar 26 vibrates a shaft 27, which carries an ink roll 27. Also fast on the shaft 25 are arms 28, 29 (see Figure 2) which vibrate respectively shafts 30, 31 (see Figure 1) on which are ink rolls 31.

Also fast on the shaft 25 is an arm 32 (see Figures 2 and 6) which is connected by a link 83 with an arm 34 on a shaft 35. vThis shaft has secured thereto a pair of arms 36, 87 (see Figure 1) te which are connected, by iinks 38, 89, arms 40, 41 which latter arms are losse en shaft 25. rllhese arms 40,41 vibrate respectively shafts 42, 43, on which are carried ink rolls 42', 43. From the ink rolls of set B, ink is transferred to the form cylinder 2 by a series of distributor rolls, marked 8, these rolls being non-vibratory rolls. l/Vith the construction described, it will be seen that the shafts 27, 80, 81 vibrate in one direction, but the shafts 42, 43 vibrate in the opposite direction, thus securing a very good distribution of the ink.

Referring now to set A, the rod 23, which is operated from the eccentric rod 17, has secured thereto an arm 45 on a cross shaft 46. Fast o-n this shaft is a double arm lever 47, one arm of which vibrates a pair of shafts 48, 49 carrying inkrolls 48', 49, and the other arm of which 47 vibrates a shaft 51, on which is supported an ink distributing cylinder 50. The ink is distributed by this cylinder 50 to a pair of distributing rolls 9, which in turn transfer the ink to the ink rolls 27', 30 before referred to. Thus there is a preliminary mixing of the ink by the mechanism of set A and a final mixing of the ink by the mechanism of set B before the ink goes to the form cylinders, thus effecting avery goed distribution and mixing of the ink. It will be observed that the movement of the ink rollers 48, 49 and the ink distributor 50. are in opposite directions.

Ink may be delivered to the mechanism in any suitable manner. .In the particular construction shown thereis an ink fountain 52, in which is a fountain roll 53 from which ink is taken by the usual ductor roll 54, which transfers it to distributing rolls 55, 56 of set A. It will be understood, however, that ink ieu can be supplied in any other suitable manner.

The power required to operate the vibrating movement varies through cycle being greater when the rollers are in the center of their stroke and considerably less during the reversal of movement. ldhere the vibratory movement is obtained by gearing direct to the printing cylinders the variation in power required is communicated to the source of power driving the press, causing variation in the speed, which causes what is commonly known as streaking. By driving the vibrating mechanism from a separate source of power the speed of the printing cylinders is not affected by the variation in power required to drive the vibrating movement, the vibrating shock is removed from the press giving a smoother running condition and improving the quality of the printing.

With the construction shown and described, a very effective inking arrangement has been produced and one in which the ink supply may be regulated with reference to press speed as may be desired, so that an effective mixture and distribution of the ink is effected.

IVhile the invention has been shown and described in its preferred form, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the specific construction and arrangement of the parts and in the power source for driving the inking mechanism without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination with a form cylinder, of a plurality of ink distributing rolls, and a power means for effecting a vibratory movement of the rolls, which means is independent of the rest of the press, whereby the rolls may be manipulated as desired at speeds varying from press speed.

2. In an inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination with a form cylinder, of a plurality of ink distributing rolls, a motor independent of the rest of the press, and connections from the motor for vibrating the rolls, whereby the rolls may be manipulated as desired at speeds varying from that of the press.

3. In an inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination with a form cylinder, of a plurality of ink distributing rolls, a motor independent of the rest of the press, connections from the motor for vibrating the rolls, and means for varying the extent or stroke of the vibratory movement of the rolls.

t. In an inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination with a form cylinconnections from the shaft for effecting vibratory movements of the second set of ink distributing rolls, and means for effecting separate adjustments of the extent or stroke of the vibratory movement of the rolls of each set.

5. In an inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination with a form cylinder, of a motor independent of the rest of the press, a set of ink distributing rolls, a second set of ink distributing rolls to which ink is transferred from the iirst set, and separate means for vibrating the ink distributing rolls of each set operated from the motor.

6. In an inking mechanism for printing` presses, the combination of a plurality of ink distributing rolls, and a power means independent of the rest of the press for effecting vibratory movements of the rolls.

7. In an inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a plurality of ink distributingl rolls, a power means independent of the rest of the press for effecting vibratory movements of the rolls, and means independent of the power means for effecting an adjustment of the vibratory stroke of the rolls.

S. In an inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a plurality of ink distributing rolls, a variable speed power means independent of the rest of the press for effecting vibratory movements of the rolls, and means independent of the power means for effecting an adjustment ofthe vibratory stroke of the rolls.

9. In an inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a plurality of ink distributing rolls, a power shaft, means for driving the shaft independently of the rest of the press, a rod operated from the shaft, connections from the rod to the rolls, and means for adjusting the vibratory movement imparted to the rolls by the rod.

I0. In an inking mechanism for printing machines, the combination of a plurality of ink distributing` rolls, a power shaft, means for driving the shaft independently of the rest of the press, a rod operated from the shaft, connect-ions from the rod to the rolls, and means independent of the shaft driving means for adjusting the vibratory movement imparted to the rolls by the rod.

ll. In an inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination with a form cylinder, of a set of ink distributing rolls, a second set of ink distributing rolls, a power shaft, means for driving the shaft independently of the rest of the press, a pair of rods operated from the shaft, one rod for each set of rolls, the means for adjusting the vibratory movement imparted by the rods to their respective sets of rolls.

12. In an inking` mechanism for printing presses, the combination with a form cylinder, of a set of ink distributing rolls, a second set of ink distributing rolls, a power' shaft, means for driving the shaft independently of the rest of the press, a pair of rods operated from the shaft, one rod for each set o' rolls, connections from the rods to the rolls, and means 'for independently adjusting the vbratory movement imparted by the rods to their respective rolls.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT J. GRAF. 

